Bobcat fear of commitment.......
#8025261
12/19/23 07:18 PM
12/19/23 07:18 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 60 NE Wyoming
grubbie
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 60
NE Wyoming
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As I posted before, I made some cage traps for bobcat. Set one and 4 days later I had a cat. Success! Remake the set, add another set a mile away just like the first one, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? This time I set up cameras on each set. A week after the sets, I got action on the cameras. Another small cat visited both sets but didn't enter. The next night the same cat visited the remake set, stuck his head in and two feet just inside the cage, then left. The traps are set to have the wind blow from the back of the trap, there is a cat toy with feathers hanging in the back on fishing line, using gland lure, MB predator bait, bobcat urine. My thoughts are maybe to put some stinky sardines in the back, sound like a plan? Prob catch every coon and skunk in the country. Or any other suggestions to get it to commit? I can't use deer, rabbit, beaver, etc. Comes down to it I will put a foothold a foot in front of the trap but I would really rather catch it in the cage. Positive notes; The traps work, and even without sign I picked some good locations, I am getting them to the traps. Video here if you want to see the refusals; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiAw88oCo88
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Re: Bobcat fear of commitment.......
[Re: grubbie]
#8025843
12/20/23 10:39 AM
12/20/23 10:39 AM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,100 Southern Nevada
cat_trapper_nv
"Cat Master"
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"Cat Master"
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,100
Southern Nevada
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Get some of Mercer's cage trap trailing sent and squirt in on the pan. I had a cat refuse my cage a few years back and didn't want to wait for the trailing scent so I mixed some tinctured caster, with some cat urine and squirted that on the floor of the cage. Make sure you stop about 6" inside the cage. Caught it the next time it came through. The theory with this is the cat will try to rub its cheek glands on the trailing scent and set off the trap. A cage trapper later told me to to mix silvervine or cat nip with the urine so it's a paste and put that on the pan since that causes cats to roll as well.
No matter what you do, make sure you mix up the curiosity factor in the cage. Put some feathers or polyfil on the ground in the back (if you don't already have some), put some turds in the back, just anything new to get that cat curious again. Since the cat already checked out this new, weird, metal rectangle thing it may have feed its curiosity and won't be as interested next time. I learned that from some big time Colorado cage trappers.
Last edited by cat_trapper_nv; 12/20/23 10:40 AM. Reason: I'm and idiot and don't proof read till after I post. I'll learn one of these days
If traps work like the Antis say......I would have no fingers.
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Re: Bobcat fear of commitment.......
[Re: grubbie]
#8026014
12/20/23 02:54 PM
12/20/23 02:54 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,709 The great cage state Colorado
Monster Toms
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,709
The great cage state Colorado
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Get rid of the gland lure. Cats except for big old toms are leery of everything, the smell of a bigger cat in the cage will flip the caution switch.
Cages work when simplicity is kept in mind. A little dab of curiosity in the back and good squirt of urine should be all that's needed in 90% of the cases.
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Re: Bobcat fear of commitment.......
[Re: grubbie]
#8044212
01/08/24 11:36 PM
01/08/24 11:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,949 Aliceville, Kansas 43
Yukon John
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,949
Aliceville, Kansas 43
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Just an update- I haven't changed anything and I have caught 3 cats in a month. Two at one location and one at the other. The camera showed a fourth marking one of the sets last night, I am pretty confident I will have that one eventually. I will probably stick with the gland lure and the bait I am using as 1: it seems to be working, and 2: I have had a skunk and raccoon investigate the sets, and they stick their head in and back out. I honestly thought I MIGHT catch one cat on this small acreage. I had no idea there were so many around. Someone trapping the pasture north of me has caught 4 cats in the same amount of time about a mile from one of my traps. Game warden says cat numbers have been down the past few years. I disagree. Thanks again for all of the advice! Catching that many, the numbers may be down next year. That's how it seems to work here from what I'm told.
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